Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-09-03
THE DISTANT PAST.
Gossippy Recollections Showing That Ours
 Js Still 8 Very Young Nation.


 Js still Very Young Nation.
 ''We think of the time of Washington as ages" said an elderly gentleman of antiquarian tastes. ''and yet can point to many illustrations which will suggest how very near the distant past is to us. after all. For instance, until within & few months law partner of Aaron Burr was in active practice in this city. He had an office in the building that was torn down to make room for Tenn pie court, and yet Burr came within a hairs breadth of being the third Presi- dent of the United States. His tie vote with Jefferson threw the election into the House. Peter Cooper, who died not long ago, remembered the day of Washington's funeral. Daniel Webster was born while the revolution was in progress, and there are many men still in their prime in New York who have seen and heard him. and if am not mistaken both MT. Field and Mr. Evarts have been engaged in law cases in which Webster was also counsel. re- gently met hearty man of business just over the line in Connecticut who was chairman of the local committee appointed to receive Lafayette when he made his second visit to this country. This mans name is John Newman. and he remembers very well how Lafayette looked and what he said on that occa- sion. Henry Clay and John c. Calhoun were both lads before this Government was organized, but there is still living a man who sat in the United States Senate with them. refer to ex-Sen- ator Simon Cameron.
 There are receiving pensions to-day as widows of soldiers of the revolution seven women, and there were living at the time of the civil war five men who had fought during the revolution. 1 heard one of them. the Rev. Daniel Waldo, preach in 1881. Mr. Poore, the Washington correspondent, has told me that he has seen every President since Madison, and had shaken hands and spoken to every one since Monroe. An old friend of mine named Abijah Ressi- qua, of Ridgefield, who died not long ago. had voted for every President since Madison. and he remembered very well hearing the church-bells toll on the day of Washington's funeral There is in active business now a man who was two years old when Washington was first inaugurated President. He is George L. Perkins, of Norwich, and he was man grown when he sailed down the Hudson on the famous trip that Robert Fulton once made from and to Albany with his steamboat. The engi- neer of the first locomotive that ever ran in the country was living some months ago, and I think still is.
 There is now living, and in good health, famous man, who was mem- Der of President Folks Cabinet forty six years ago. mean Bancroft. the historian. Mr. Bancroft has met with very many men who took part in the revolutionary war and conversed with them. Very many New Yorkers, not yet old men, were we'll acquainted with the son of Alexander Hamilton, who died not long ago. Yet Alexander hanllUoH WAS WdShihgton alu uuflnS the revolution and his first Secretary oi the Treasury. You will see then from these illustrations, and I might give others. that we are still very young republic. and that but a fewyears have passed since the time when all who now live might have taken the hands of men who had seen Washington and who had fought under him. Very many men now living have, in fact, been able to enjoy this privilege. "-M r. Letter.